Wire-stretcher for corner-posts



(No Model.) I

V C. F. RUTTMAN. WIRE STRETGHER FOR CORNER POSTS.

No. 556,214. Patented Mar. 10, 1896.

UNiTEo STATES PATENT QEEICE.

CHARLES F. RUTTMAN, OF VALPARAISO, NEBRASKA.

WlRE-STRETCHER FOR CORNER-POSTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,214, dated March 10, 1896.

Application filed September 4, 1895. $eria1 No. 561,464. (No model.)

To ail whom it'may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. RUTTMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Valparaiso, in the county of Sanders and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and useful Tire-Stretcher for Corner-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire-stretchers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of wire-stretchers and to provide a simple and inexpensive one, designed to be mounted on a corner-post, and capable of enabling the slack of wires to be readily taken up at any time.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a corner-post provided with wirestretchers constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of one of the wire-stretchers.

Like numerals of reference'indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a round corner-post, preferably constructed of tubular metal and having mounted on it a vertical series of tubular or cylindrical wire stretchers 2, to which are connected fence-wires 3, and which are adapted to be rotated by a wrench to stretch the fence-wires to the desired tension.

The series of wire-stretchers are supported by a horizontal pin 4 or other suitable fastening device, which passes through the post and projects beyond the same and has resting upon it the lowermost one of a series of wirestretchers. Each Wire-stretcher is provided with a cylindrical portion or sleeve 5 and a rectangular or polygonal portion 6, arranged at the bottom of the cylindrical portion or sleeve 5 and projecting outward beyond the same and adapted to receive a wrench or other suitable tool for rotating the wirestretcher.

The cylindrical portion or sleeve is adapted to operate as a drum and to have the fence- Wire wrapped around it by rotating the wirestretcher, and it is provided at its upper edge with a series of vertical slots or recesses '7, any pair of which is adapted to receive a locking-pin 8. The locking-pin 8 passes through the post and is adapted to project therefrom and engage two diametrically-oppositely-disposed slots or recesses 7. After the wirestretcher has been rotated to produce the desired tension of the fence-wire, the lockingpin is placed in position.

The wire-stretcher is adapted to receive smooth or barb wire, and it is provided on the upper face of the projecting polygonal portion or wrench-seat with a substantially triangular lug 9, having an inner curved edge arranged parallel with the adjacent portion of the periphery or outer face of the cylindrical portion or sleeve 5. The space between the lug and the cylindrical portion or sleeve 5 is sufficient to receive afence-wire, and the latter is locked or held fast by being provided with a crimp 10 of a greater size than the width of the space between the lug 9 and the sleeve 5. In case barb-wire is employed, a barb or point may operate as a stop, if it is sufficiently strong, and after the wire is attached to the wire-stretcher it maybe wound around the cylindrical portion or sleeve 5 from the polygonal portion to the slots or rccesses 7.

The post 1 is supported by suitable braces 11, and in order to prevent any liability of the post turning or twisting under the action of the wire-stretchers, the latter may be alternately rotated in opposite directions.

It will be seen that the wire-stretchers' are adapted to be arranged in a vertical series on a fence-post, and that in such an arrangement one will support another, and by having the series of notches 7 at the upper edge of the tubular portion of the Wire-stretcher, the latter may be readily interlocked with the fastening device by sliding it upward in engagement with the same, and it may be readily disengaged by dropping it slightly.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

\Vhat I claim iscylindrical portion of the wire-stretcher and forming a wire-receiving space, fastening devices for engaging the notches or openings, and means for supporting the lower wirestreteher of the series, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed in y signatu re in the presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES l1. RUlT'lMAN.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY Ives, 13. F. SMITH. 

